Safaa Al-Hamdani

Professor of Biology
Biology Department
Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL 36265
e-mail: sah@jsu.edu
phone: 256-782-5801

Education:

Ph.D. in Botany (1988), Oklahoma State University (USA)
M.S. in Plant and Soil Science (1983), Tuskegee University (USA)
B.S. in Agronomy (1977), Baghdad University (Iraq)

Biosketch:

I came to Jacksonville State University in 1992 from Miami University, Department of Botany in Ohio, where I was a Visiting Assistant Professor/Postdoctoral Associate from 1990 to 1992. Prior to that, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor/Postdoctoral Associate at Oklahoma State University, Department of Botany from 1988 to 1990. I have been teaching Biology at Jacksonville State University since 1992. I was selected as a Fulbright Scholar for the 2001-2002 academic years and conducted research and taught at Yarmouk University, Jordan.

Recently I have been selected as the Editor of Alabama Academy of Science Journal. The Alabama Academy of Science is preview journal publishes significant novel research of interest to a wide audience of scientists in all areas of Science.

In the area of public service, I founded the Books for Baghdad project, which received nation wide recognition and was reported by over 100 news agencies including CNN.   The projected was resulted in the collection over 11,000 current college textbooks and educational supplies that were shipped this year (2005) to my alma mater, Baghdad University.

Since I came to Jacksonville State University, I have been Awarded number of  honors include the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's Award for Institutional Service (1996), College of Arts and Sciences' the Distinguished Research Award (1997) , Jacksonville State University  the Faculty Scholar Research Award (1999), Faculty Appreciation Award, International Student Organization (2000), Jacksonville State University the Faculty Scholar Research Award (2004), the College of Arts and Sciences' Community Dean's Award for Institutional Service(2005), Jacksonville State University the Education, and Service Award (2005).

Current Research Interests:                
I am plant stress physiologist.  My primary interest is to investigate the influence of selected environmental stresses on plants.  During the past fourteen years, I have involved many graduate and undergraduate students in my research projects.  I have been studying a wide range of stresses influencing selected aquatic and terrestrial plants.  My recent interest has been focusing on studying Phytoremediation.  The idea of using plants to clean up the environment cannot be traced to a specific time in the history of science. However, with an increase in the human population and the accelerated negative impact on the environment makes Phytoremediation one of the prime solutions to several contamination problems. In selecting plants for Phytoremediation, relative plant tolerance to the contaminants and growth rates are the major barometers to be considered.  Among the plants, which I have investigated, I found that Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) has promising potential to remediate heavy metals considering the fact that Kudzu can grow over 60 feet per year.  In the aquatic habitat, Salvinia (Salvinia minima) is relatively equivalent to Kudzu in its growth with a high tolerance to various contaminants.  In addition to Phytoremediation I have developed strong interests in using remote sensing as a tool in evaluating plant stresses. For many years I was supported by NASA EPSCoR to investigate such potential.  The result of this project illustrates the possibility of identifying stressed plants in the field and possibly predict plant yield prior to the harvest time.  In addition, we have been working on establishing reflectance signature to identify plants using remote sensing.  

Teaching Experience:
Undergraduate Courses: General Biology; Introductory Botany; Plant, Humanity and Environment; Biological Diversity; and Cell Biology.

Graduate Courses: Plant Growth and Development; Plant Physiology; Plant Biology; Physiological Ecology; and Plant Response to Environmental Stress.

Publications:
Al-Hamdani, S. H., and G. W. Todd. 1989. The Carbohydrate Trend in Alfalfa Root for the Period Between the Last Cut in the Fall and the First Cut in the Spring. Proc. Oklahoma Academy of Science 69:11-14.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., and G. W. Todd. 1990. Effects of Temperature on Photosynthate Partitioning in Alfalfa. Canadian. Journals of Plant Science. 70:203-208.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., and G. W. Todd. 1990. Temperature Effects on Photosynthesis, Respiration and Growth Components of Alfalfa. Proc. Oklahoma Academy of Science 70:1-4.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., and G. W. Todd and D. A. Francko, 1990. Response of Wheat Growth and CO2 Assimilation to Altering Root-Zone Temperature. Canadian Journal of Botany. 68:2698-2702.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., J. Murphy and G. W. Todd. 1991. Stomatal Conductance and CO2 Assimilation as Screening Tools for Drought Resistance in Sorghum. Canadian Journal of Plant Science. 689-694.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., and D. A. Francko. 1992. Effects of Light and Temperature on Nelumbo lutea Pers. Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation. Aquatic Botany. 44:51-58.

Francko, D. A., L. Delay, and S. H. Al-Hamdani. 1993. Effects of Chromium (VI) on Photosynthetic Rates and Seedling Growth in Nelumbo lutea. Journal Aquatic Plant Management. 31:29-33.

Francko, D. A., S. H. Al-Hamdani, and G. J. Joo. 1994. Enhancement of Nitrogen Fixation in Anabaena flos-aquae through ultrasonic treatment. Journal of Applied Phycology. 6:455-458.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., and A. J. Hueta, and D. A. Francko. 1995. The Effects of Root-Zone Temperature on Stomatal Conductance and CO2 Assimilation of Wheat. Plant Physiology. (Life Sci. Adv). 14:21-25.

Wilson, J. G., and S. H. Al-Hamdani. 1997. Effects of Cr (Vi) and Humic Substances on Selected Physiological Responses of Azolla caroliniana. American Fern Journal. 87(1): 17-27.

Gardner, J., and S. H. Al-Hamdani. 1997. Interactive Effects of Aluminum and Humic Substances on Salvinia. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management. 35:1-5.

Ayala-Silva, T, and S. H. Al-Hamdani. 1997. Interactive Effect of Aluminum and Polymer L-lactic Acid on Growth and Physiology of Azolla caroliniana. American Fern Journal. 87(4): 120-126.

Ayala-Silva, T., and S. H. Al-Hamdani. 1997. Physiological Responses of Azolla caroliniana to the Polymer L-lactic Acid. Alabama Academy of Science. 68(4):290-295.

Al-Hamdani, S. H., Burnett, C., and G. Durant. 1998. Effect of Low-Dose Ultrasound on Spirulina maxima. Aquacultural Engineering 19:17-28.

Nichols, B.P., J. Couch, S.H. Al-Hamdani.  2000.  Physiological responses of Salvinia toCr (VI) and its potential use in phytoremediation. Aquatic Botany. 68: 313-319.

Al-Hamdani, S. H.,and T. S. Thomas. 2000. Influence of Root Chilling on Winter and Spring Wheat Growth and CO₂ Assimilation. Acta Agriculture Scandinavica (B) Soil and Plant Science 50:149-154.

Connell, S.L., and S.H. Al-Hamdani. 2001. Selected physiological responses of kudzu to different chromium concentrations. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 81:53-58

Al-Hamdani, S. H, P. Brent Nichols, and George R. Cline. 2002^. Seasonal changes in the spectral properties of mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia L., Ericaceae) in north east Alabama. Castanea. 67(1):25-32.

Al-Hamdani, S. H. andT. W. Barger. 2003.  Influence of water stress on selected physiological responses of three sorghum genotypes. Italian Journal of agronomy. 7(1):15-22.

Al-Hamdani, S. H.  2004.  Influence of Varies Nacl Concentrations on Selected Physiological Responses of Kudzu. Asian Journal of Plant Science. 3(1):114-119.

Al-Hamdani, S. H. and Blair, S.  2004. Influence of Copper on Selected Physiological Responses of Salvinia Minima and Its Potential Use in Copper Remediation. American Fern Journal. 94 (1):1-9.

Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards:
Since I came to Jacksonville State University, I have been Awarded number of honors include:

The College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's Award for Institutional Service (1996).

College of Arts and Sciences' the Distinguished Research Award (1997).

 Jacksonville State University the Faculty Scholar Research Award (1999).

Faculty Appreciation Award, International Student Organization (2000).

Fulbright Scholarship for the academic year (2001-2002), Yarmouk
University in Jordan.

Jacksonville State University the Faculty Scholar Research Award (2004).

 The College of Arts and Sciences' Community Dean's Award for Institutional Service (2005).

 Jacksonville State University the Education, and Service Award (2005).

Masters Theses Supervised:

Ayala-Silva, Tomas (MS). 1995. Interactive Effect of Aluminum and Polymer L. Lactic Acid on growth and Physiology of Azolla caroliniana.

Barger, Terry Wayne (MS). 1996.Cell Membrane Stability, Leaf Surface Wax Content and Carbohydrate Accumulation as affected by Water Stress  in Three Sorghum Genotypes.

 Blair, Stacy (MS). MS) 2001.Influence of selected concentrations of Cu on photosynthesis, carbohydrate accumulation and growth of Salvinia.

 Burnett, Chris (MS). 1996.Physiological Responses of Azolla and Anabaena flos-aquae (Cyanobacteria) to Low-Dose Ultrasonic Treatment.

Connell, Shounda (MS). 1999. Evaluation of Kudzu as a Biological Agent for the Remediation of Cr (VI).

Gardner, Jeff (MS). 1996. Interactive Effects of Aluminum and Humic Material on Salvinia minima Growth, Photosynthetic Rates, and Carbohydrate Accumulation.

Thomas, Travis Scott (MS). 1997.  Physiological Responses of Winter and spring Wheat to Altering Root-zone temperature.

Sirna, Cynthia (MS). 2001.  Evaluation of Salvinia as an alternative food source to selected animals.

Wilson, Jimmy Glenn (MS). 1995. Effect of Aquatic Humus on Chromium toxicity to Azolla caroliniana growth and Physiology.

Professional Societies:

American Society of Plant Physiologists

Association of Southeastern Biologists

Alabama Academy of Science

                                   Updated June 21, 2005